Vertically and horizontally movable toy

ABSTRACT

A VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY WHICH COMPRISES MOTOR MEANS, REEL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR MEANS AND ARRANGED TO WIND AND UNWIND A STRING SUSPENDING THE TOY FROM A CEILING, A REVERSING GEAR FOR SAID REEL MEANS, VERTICALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SLIDABLE MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID REVERSING GEAR, AND WHEEL MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE TOY ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE.

Oct. 19, 1971 [SAM] SUZUKI v VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY Filed Sept. 24. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ISRMU SURWU WAWMW ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1971 ISAMI SUZUKI 3,513,305

VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY Filed Sept. 24. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ISRMU' SUZ VU ATTORNEYS Oct. 19,1971 [5AM] suzuKl 3,613,305

VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY Filed sept' 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet I J R I74 77 /7 2.7-5 15 23 I Md V/wg 20 14 INVENTOR ISHM u S u 7. u x I Mm M1, \M

ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1971 ISAMI SUZUKI 7 VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY Filed Sept. 24, 1966 7 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ISHM SUlUMI ATTORNEY United States Patent ()lfice 3,613,305 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 3,613,305 VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE TOY Isamu Suzuki, Tateishi, Japan, assignor to Tomy Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Filed Sept. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 860,659 Claims priority, application Japan, Sept. 27, 1968, 43/ 84,713 Int. Cl. A63h 17/00 US. Cl. 46206 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertically and horizontally movable toy which comprises motor means, reel means operatively connected to said motor means and arranged to wind and unwind a string suspending the toy from a ceiling, a reversing gear for said reel means, vertically outwardly extending slidable means for operating said reversing gear, and wheel means driven by said motor means for propelling the toy on a supporting surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a toy, and more particularly to a toy arranged to operate vertically up and down.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a toy capable of automatically ascending and descending vertically between two vertically spaced positions, such as a room ceiling and a floor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy of the kind described above which can also run on a supporting surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy of the kind stated above which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a toy of the character described which is simple in construction and operation.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly cross-sectioned side view of a toy helicopter as one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly cross-sectioned elevational side view of a toy rocket as another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partly cut-away enlarged view of a portion of the reversing gear shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view, in an enlarged scale, of a top portion of the toy according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale, of an operating arm for the reversing gear;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the toy helicopter shown in FIG. 1 operates vertically up and down between a ceiling and a floor;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the toy rocket shown in FIG. 2 operates vertically up and down between a ceiling and a floor; and

FIG. 10 is a view showing the state in which the toy rocket is travelling on a supporting surface.

In FIGS. 1 to 10, like portions or parts are designated with like numerals.

Referring to the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown a toy helicopter A and a toy rocket B embodying the present invention, respectively. Both helicopter A and rocket B comprise a body 1, a cylindrical housing 2 fixedly mounted within the body 1 by appropriate means, an electric motor 3 housed in a motor housing 4 fixed to said cylindrical housing, said electric motor being in circuit with a dry cell 5 encased in a battery box 6 disposed within the body 1, switch means 7 for opening and closing the motor circuit, a gear train generally designated G, a reversing gear generally designated R, and reel means 8 removably mounted within a capsule 9 which is removably mounted on an upper portion of the cylindrical housing 2.

The cylindrical housing 2 is formed of a cylindrical wall 10, a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12, an intermediate wall 13 and of an inward flange 14 located between the top wall 11 and the intermediate wall 13 and having an annular concave surface 14a.

The reversing gear R comprises a driving gear 15 rotatably mounted on the lower end 16a of a vertical shaft 16 having at its middle portion a relatively large diameter and extending vertically through and concentrically of the top and intermediate walls 11, 13, a driven gear 17 rotatably mounted on the upper end 16b of the shaft 16 projecting axially upwardly of the top wall 11, a transmisison gear wheel 18 in the form of a crown gear which is in mesh with both of the driving gear 15 and the driven gear 17 and which is fixedly mounted on one end of a horizontal shaft 19 passing through a horizontal bore of the middle portion of the vertical shaft 16, a cylindrical clutch member 20 having a pawl portion 20a and axially displaceably mounted on the other end of said horizontal shaft 19, an expansion coil spring 21 mounted on the horizontal shaft 19 between the vertical shaft 16 and the clutch member 20, said coil spring being connected at one end to a portion of the horizontal shaft 19 adjacent a peripheral portion of the vertical shaft 16 and abutting at the other end against the inner surface of the clutch member 20 so as to constantly bias said clutch member radially outwardly, and an elongated operating arm 22 vertically slidably mounted in a vertically elongated cut-out 23 formed in one side of the cylindrical wall 10 of the cylindrical housing 2.

The driving gear 15 is operatively connected to the electric motor 3 through the gear train G which comprises a crown gear 24 integral with the driving gear 15 and in mesh with a pinion 25 mounted on a horizontal shaft 26, a toothed wheel 27 coaxial with the pinion 25 and in mesh with a pinion 28 mounted on a horizontal shaft 29, and a crown gear 30 coaxial with the pinion 28 and in mesh with a pinion 31 mounted on output shaft 32 of the motor 3.

On the top portion of the upper end 16b of the vertical shaft 16 is rotatably mounted a gear 17a which is integral with and rotates with the driven gear 17. The gear 17a is arranged to mesh with a crown gear 33 fixedly and coaxially mounted with the reel 8 on a horizontal shaft 34 detachably and rotatably supported at its ends on a pair of brackets 35 which project upwardly from the top wall 11 of the cylindrical housing 2.

The capsule 9 has its lower end opened and is provided at its top With a relatively small circular aperture 9a, in its side wall with a longitudinal slit 9b and in its lower peripheral portion with a pair of L-shaped apertures 9c engageable with projections 10a provided on the upper peripheral portion of the cylindrical wall 10 of said cylindrical housing. Projecting upwardly through the circular aperture 9a is a crank-like operating arm 36. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the operating arm 36' comprises a hollow cylindrical portion 36a with a longitudinal slit 36b, and an angular arm portion 36c connected at one end to the cylindrical portion 36a. The arm portion 36c is provided with a channel 36d which runs parallel with said cylindrical portion, and also with a circular aperture 36a which is aligned with the channel 36d.

The crank-like operating arm 36 is mounted at its arm portion 360 within the capsule 9 in such a way that it can vertically slide along a guide post 37' which depends from the conical upper wall 9d of the capsule 9 and which ex tends vertically into the channel 36 through the circular aperture 36a of the arm portion 360. The function of this operating arm 36 will be described later together with that of the elongated operating arm 22.

Within the capsule 9 are provided a pair of elongated plates 37 which depend from the upper wall 911 to engage at their bottom faces with the top faces of the brackets 35 projecting upwardly from the top wall 11 of the cylindrical casing 2. Each of the elongated plates 37 is provided at its bottom face with a semi-circular notch 37a to form bearings for the shaft 34 of reel 8 in co-operation with the semi-circular notches 35a formed in the upper ends of the brackets 35, so that when the capsule 9 is mounted on the cylindrical casing 2 the shaft 34 received by the notches 35a can be rotatably supported and secured by the bearings.

Description will now be made as to the operation of the reversing gear R by referring to FIGS. 1 to 4. When the clutch member 20 is disengaged from the driven gear 17 and is in engagement with the cut-out portion 23 of the cylindrical wall 10 by being displaced outwardly along the horizontal shaft 19 by the action of the expansion coil spring 19 mounted on the horizontal shaft 21, the vertical shaft 16 carrying said horizontal shaft will be prevented from rotating by the engagement of the clutch member 20 with the cut-out portion 23.

As a result, the rotation imparted to the driving gear 15, which is rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft 16, by the motor 3 through the medium of the gear train G will rotate the crown gear 18 which will, in turn, rotate the driven gear 17 and the gear 17a integral therewith, and then, the output gear 17a will drive the crown gear 33 to rotate the reel 8 in one direction. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the state in which the clutch member 20 is disengaged from the driven gear 17 and locked by the cut-out portion 23. It is to be noted, in this case, that the rotating direction of driven gear 17 is opposite to that of driving gear and that the tip portion of the outward rounded face of the clutch member is in contact with a portion of the inner surface of the elongated operating arm 22 which portion is located immediately below the inner sloping face 22b of the wedge portion 22a formed on the upper end of the arm 22.

When the clutch member 20 is engaged at its pawl portion 20a with the driven gear 17 and is released from the engagement with the cut-out portion 23 by being displaced inwardly along the horizontal shaft 19 against the action of the expansion spring 21, the rotation imparted to the driving gear 15 will cause the vertical shaft 16 to be rotated about a vertical axis, since, on one hand, the driven gear 17 is prevented to rotate on the vertical shaft 16 by the engagement with the pawl portion 20a of the clutch member 20, and on the other hand, the driving gear 15 is prevented to rotate by the transmission gear wheel 18 meshed with the locked driven gear 17.

As a result, the horizontal shaft 19 carried by the vertical shaft 16 is caused to swivel by the rotation of the vertical shaft 16 in such state that the clutch member 20 is in contact at its rounded outer end with the annular concave surface 14a of the cylindrical casing 2. Thus, the driven gear 17 accompanied with the output gear 17a is driven for rotation by the driving gear 15 in the same direction of rotation as the latter. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the state in which the clutch member 20 is in engagement with the driven gear 17 and is disengaged from the cutout portion 23. As may be seen from these figures, in this position the rounded tip of the clutch member 20 is in contact with the inner face of the wedge portion 22a of the lower elongated operating arm 22 immediately above 4 the sloping face 22b thereof. This position is caused by depressing the vertically slidable arm 22 in the previously mentioned position with the upper crank-shaped operating arm 36 which abuts at the lower end of its arm portion 360 against the top end of the wedge portion 22a of the lower operating arm 22.

Referring now again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that both the helicopter A and the rocket B further comprises a grooved pulley 38 fixedly mounted on the intermediate horizontal shaft 26, a grooved pulley-like wheel 39 mounted on a shaft 40 rotatably supported by a leg 41 which projects outwardly from the body 1, an endless belt 42 passing over and around the pulley 38 and the wheel 39, and a wheel 43 mounted on a shaft 44 rotatably supported by a leg 45.

The helicopter A shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a simulated propeller 46 having an annular mounting 46a. This propeller 46 is rotatably mounted on the upper cylindrical portion 1a of the body 1 by inserting the cylindrical portion into the annular mounting 46a and is arranged to be rotated by a disk 47 which is fixedly mounted on the horizontal shaft 26. The disk 47 projects upwardly of the body 1 through a longitudinal slit in the upper portion thereof and is in frictional contact at its peripheral portion with the lower face of the annular mounting 46a of said propeller.

Further, the lower operating arm 22 of the helicopter A has at its lower end a socket 220 in which a retractable leg 22d is received. Projecting laterally outwardly from the cylindrical wall 10 and bridged over the cut-out portion 23 thereof are means 48 for vertically slidably holding the lower operating arm 22 along the vertically extending cut-out 23.

FIG. 5 shows the state in which the cylindrical clutch member 20 is mounted on one end 19a of the horizontal shaft 19 carried by the vertical shaft 16. As shown, the end portion 19a has a square transverse cross section shape so as to prevent the clutch member 20 from rotating on the horizontal shaft 19.

Around the reel 8 is looped a string 49 for connecting the toy with a room ceiling or any other desired position above a floor, table, etc.

To prepare for up and down operation, the reel 8 is set on the brackets and the capsule 9 with the upper operating arm 36 is mounted on the cylindrical casing 2 and secured thereto by locking the L-shaped apertures 9c with the projections 10a. Before this is done, it is desirable that the string 49 is partially drawn out so that it can be pulled out of the upper opening of the cylindrical portion 36a of the upper operating arm 36 after being passed through the longitudinal slits 9b and 36b of the capsule and the cylindrical portion of said arm. Then, the string 49 is connected with the ceiling or the like by any appropriate means for suspending the toy therefrom.

With respect to the helicopter A, the retractable leg 220 should be pulled down so that it can come into contact with the floor, table or the like.

In operation, as the switch 7 is turned to on, the motor 3 starts rotating and transmits power to the reel 8 for rotation through the medium of the gear train G and the reversing gear R. In FIGS. 1 and 2, when the reel 8 is rotated clockwise, the string 49 is wound around the reel and the toy goes up. As the toy reaches the ceiling or the like, the upper operating arm 36 comes into contact at its top face with the same and is depressed to push the lower operating arm 22 downwardly to thereby operate the reversing gear R as previously described.

When the rotational direction of the reel 8 is reversed by actuation of the reversing gear, the string 49 is unwound and the toy goes down. Then, as the toy descends and reaches the floor or the like, the lower operating arm 22 comes into contact at its lower end with the same and is pushed upwardly to operate the reversing gear R for reversing the direction of rotation of the reel 8, thus enabling the toy to repeat up and down operation between the two vertically spaced positions. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the state in which the helicopter A and the rocket B operate vertically up and down between the ceiling and the fioor, respectively.

For horizontal operation, it is desirable to take out the reel 8 in order to prevent the string 49 from unnecessary tangling within the capsule 9.

In operation, as the switch 7 is turned to on after the toy is placed on the supporting surface as illustrated in FIG. 10, the motor 3 starts rotating and transmits power to the wheel 39 for rotation through the medium of the gear arrangements and the endless belt 42, thereby enabling the toy to travel on the supporting surface.

While the particular toy herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and pro viding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A toy comprising a body, motor means disposed within said body, reel means rotatably mounted on said body and arranged to be driven by said motor means, a string being connected at one end to said reel means and being arranged for the connection of its other end to a support surface from which the toy can be dependently supported, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means to wind said string around said reel means and also to unwind the same for effecting the ascend and descend of the toy, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means including movably displaceable means projecting from said body and being arranged to be movably displaced when the toy completes its ascent or descent and said projecting means come into contact with the surface defining the termination of the ascent or descent path of the toy, whereby the toy is arranged to operate vertically between two vertically spaced terminating surfaces.

2. A toy comprising a body, motor means disposed within said body, reel means rotatably mounted on said body and arranged to be driven by said motor means, a string being connected at one end to said reel means and at the other end to a ceiling or the like for suspending the toy therefrom, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means to wind said string around said reel means and also to unwind the same to thereby ascend and descend said toy, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means being arranged to be actuated when the toy ascends or descends and comes in contact with the ceiling or'the like or a surface on which the toy lands, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means comprising a cylindrical casing, a capsule covering said reel means and removably mounted on said casing, gear wheels operatively connected to said motor means and said reel means, clutch means adapted to engage with one of said gear wheels to reverse the direction of rotation of said reel means, and means for operating said clutch means, whereby said toy is adapted to operate vertically up and down between the two vertically spaced positions.

3. A toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for operating said clutch means comprises a pair of vertically slidable operating arms, one of said operating arms, one of said operating arms projecting upwardly of said capsule, the other of said operating arms projecting downwardly of said cylindrical casing and abutting at its upper end against the lower end of the former.

4. A toy comprising a body, motor means disposed within said body, reel means rotatably mounted on said body and arranged to be driven by said motor means, a string being connected at one end to said reel means and at the other end to a ceiling or the like for suspending the toy therefrom, means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means to wind said string around said reel means and also to unwind the same to thereby ascend and descend said toy, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means being arranged to be actuated when the toy ascends or descends and comes into contact with the ceiling or the like or a surface on which the toy lands, and wheel means driven by said motor means for propelling said toy on a supporting surface, whereby said toy is adapted to operate vertically up and down between the two vertically spaced positions.

,7 5. A toy comprising a body, motor means disposed within said body, reel means rotatably mounted on said body and arranged to be driven by said motor means, a string being connected at one end to said reel means and at the other end to a ceiling or the like for suspending the toy therefrom, means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means to wind said string around said reel means and also to unwind the same to thereby ascend and descend said toy, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means being arranged to be actuated when the toy ascends or descends and comes into contact with the ceiling or the like or a surface on which the toy lands, the toy is a toy helicopter and comprises a simulated propeller operatively connected to said motor means for rotation, and wheel means driven by said motor means for propelling said toy on a supporting surface, whereby said toy is adapted to operate vertically up and down between the two vertically spaced positions.

6. A toy comprising a body, motor means disposed within said body, reel means rotatably mounted on said body and arranged to be driven by said motor means, a string being connected at one end to said reel means and at the other end to a ceiling or the like for suspending the toy therefrom, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means to wind said string around said reel means and also to unwind the same to thereby ascend and descend said toy, said means for reversing the direction of rotation of said reel means being arranged to be actuated when the toy ascends or descends and comes into contact with the ceiling or the like or a surface on which the toy lands, and the toy is a toy rocket and comprises wheel means operatively connected to said motor means for rotation to thereby drive the toy on a supporting surface, whereby said toy is adapted to operate vertically up and down between the two vertically spaced positions.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1966 Till 242-54 

